Social Services

[StayAGhost]

With the cost of living crisis, will social services have different expectations regarding cleanliness and food?
Growing up in the 70/80's we had ONE wash day per week. That was it. This was normal and acceptable at the time
Now my children are in school, they seem to expect perfectly and laundered clothes. I don't see how this is sustainable when tumble drier is too costly, heating isn't on and its pissing it down with rain.
The school has phoned a couple of times to say "your son's trousers are aren't clean (he often goes stream jumping before school, they were clean when he left the house)
Same with food. The expectation was one hot meal a day is fine
Now the school have phoned to make me aware he's had sandwiches rather than dinner (stood in the wrong line apparently)
So would SS bear these things in mind???

Regarding referral
I'm in a fortunate position of been able to throw money at a solution (tho did impact plans for other spending)
I was just thinking regarding expectations and such

It's interesting to note that other posters assume I'm not looking after the children, and that's the concern around SS

SS are professional, not randos on MN with obsessive cleaning standards. They have VASTLY more to worry about than whether your son has sandwiches for lunch.

What a strange post.

SS will not be reflecting on the economy before making decisions regarding the investigation or not of child welfare

Are they at secondary school?

Why are shoes not great for walking in?

Yes secondary school

It's calmed down significantly, but there seemed always something

The sandwich thing was primary school actually

Wobble board
Coz there light weight
It's over a mile to school
I've noticed most girls wearing ballet type black shoes

These schools sound exhausting!

Are you a single parent with children in schools with religious affiliations by any chance?

I never bought my girls that. They got sensible lace up shoes.

How did you "fail to provide" uniform?

The sandwich thing was primary school actually

So almost certainly they were just letting you know your DC had the wrong lunch.

Quite like it
Interesting and concerning that these things won't be taken into account
DS. trousers are again looking short. Off to buy another 5 pairs!!!!

Can't you let the trousers down? With a false hem if necessary?

Madness
I didn't understand the conversation at the time
I can only add they were concerned enough to phone
There's ALWAYS plenty of money in the dinner money account
He did come home with uneaten sandwich's
For the concerned posters
We have a hot meal every nite!!

I was a child of the 80s.

One bath a week, one meal a day and clothes from car boot sales.

My mum was a single parent working full time as a social worker.

I was fine and had a happy childhood just do your best xx

Wobble board
You've vastly over estimating my skills

I think we are talking at cross purposes.

What did the school say was your failure to provide uniform

Again they shower daily!!

Unsuitable boots

So why didn't you ask them after the first pair for a copy of their uniform policy? And return the next pair of boots back unworn if they didn't meet the policy?

Why do you need more than three sets of uniform per child? One to wash one to wear and one in the drawer if they're at secondary?

shirts at secondary I'd have 5 or 6
But trousers would be one pair plus last years / an older siblings pair for an emergency.

Blazers were wool and dry cleaned at half terms only.

You're comparing two things. I think SCHOOLS should take into account the cost of living and address their sometimes utterly ridiculous uniform codes. SS never did think those things were important. SS level is at 'prevent harm' rather than 'ideal'.

It takes a lot for social services to be involved - not just slightly the wrong boots if uniform slightly too small.

I think StayAGhost means one day a week when clothes are washed.
We used to wear clothes for more than a day when I was a child, apart from clean knickers and socks every day.

Why do you let your son jump in streams in his school trousers before school?
He's going to spend the morning feeling very wet and uncomfortable, as well as dirty! 😁

I do think SS have more pressing cases to deal with.

Social workers have a lot more to worry about than water marks on clothes, sandwich lunches and trims on shoes. They are also well used to supporting families in poverty and considering the impact of poverty.

There is a big difference between a parent financially struggling who is doing what they can to meet their childrens needs despite poverty, seeking help etc when required - and a parent who is neglecting their child. Usually neglect spans multiple areas of the child’s life. Social workers are used to working with families where the home conditions aren’t great, but perhaps not hazardous and the children are loved.

When I was at boarding school in the 70’s we had clean shirts and underwear daily, trousers/skirts/jumpers/ pj’s washed weekly.
all this was planned and organised by the school and we had a list of how many items to bring at the start of each term.

my point being, standards and expectations have certainly changed

(blazers were wool and never expected to be cleaned)